Artistic Research and Artistic Development Work - KU

At the Royal Institute of Art both teaching staff and students engage in different forms of explorative artistic research and development projects. Some of them are long-term and done in collaboration with national and international institutions. Other projects can be shorter and experimental.

These initiatives often result in transdisciplinary outcomes, which are presented publicly such as through exhibitions, performances and publications. The composition of the Royal Institute of Art’s staff and students, with their diverse backgrounds and networks, opens up for individual and collective work processes.

The projects include, for example, interactive and site-related installations, investigations into artistic materials and conceptually oriented works. The school’s unique history and expertise, the provision of well-equipped technical workshops, and the willingness to in artistic ways comment upon contemporary developments in society, are all reflected in the range of works made.

 Oscar Furbacken 
During the research week 2011 Oscar Furbacken was showing part of his contribution to the ongoing project "The Photographer" initiated by Björn Larsson.


Artistic research, which is practice-based and reflective, and where knowledge is articulated through dialogues between ideas and matter, site and audience, can in varying and unexpected ways highlight aspects and issues relating to human experiences.

In order to critically and financially support these activities, it is possible to apply internally for KU-funding for less extensive projects. (Read more about Artistic Development Work - KU) The Royal Institute of Art is now building an artistic research environment where researchers and doctoral candidates and others take part. (Read more about Artistic Research)

The school is overall increasing its activities connected to artistic research and artistic development projects, and also their visibility and integration into the bachelor and master level programmes. Collaborations are made with the Department of Computer & Systems Sciences (DSV) at Stockholm University. The Royal Institute of Art also hosts projects financed by the Swedish Research Council and is a member of Konstnärliga forskarskolan (a national research school in the field of arts).

Contact: Åsa Andersson, Research Coordinator, +46 (0)8 614 40 48.